On March 26, 2025, a panel of Brazil’s Supreme Court justices unanimously voted to indict former President Jair Bolsonaro for his role in an alleged attempt to overturn the results of the 2022 election and retain power. Prosecutors accuse Bolsonaro and 33 allies of plotting a coup, which allegedly included plans to assassinate President Lula da Silva and Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes.
The charges—unprecedented in Brazilian history—include attempted coup, criminal association, and violent threats against the democratic order. Justice Flávio Dino underscored the gravity of the case, stating, “Coups kill,” as the justices reviewed evidence including footage from the January 8, 2023, insurrection in Brasília.
Bolsonaro, who fled to the U.S. days before leaving office, denies the charges and claims political persecution. Legal scholars called the court’s decision historic, marking the first time a former Brazilian head of state will be tried for attempting to violently subvert the democratic state.
President Lula welcomed the court’s move and said he trusted Brazil’s judiciary to deliver justice. Meanwhile, Bolsonaro remains barred from running for office until 2030 due to earlier convictions over abuse of power and disinformation about Brazil’s voting system.